Pressure control mechanism for draft tubes



Nov. 24, 1936.

H. C. WILLIAMSON PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DRAFT TUBES Filed Feb. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24, 1936. H, C, WILUAMSN 2,061,642

PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DRAFT TUBES Filed Feb. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PRESSURE CNTRGL MECHANSM FOR. DRAFT TUBES Henry C. Williamson, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Beckley-Ralston Co., Chicago, lill., a corporation oil Illinois Application February 14, 1935, Serial No. 6,460

5 Claims.

This invention relates to pressure control mechanism for draft tubes and more particularly to a mechanism for dispensing beer, for maintaining it under proper pressure, and for relieving the beer of excess CO2 gas without wasting the product.

The main object of the invention is to provide a compact, unitary structure, eicient for the purposes described, which will automatically maintain desired CO2 gas pressure on the beer to be dispensed by the tap.

In the drawingszf Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a beer tap and control mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line I-II of Fig. 1.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a beer container is indicated at I. It is provided with a top wall I I which is centrally apertured to receive the metal conduit I2 of the tap. The conduit I2 has apertures I3 in its lower end through which beer is forced into the conduit to be dispensed by actuating the handle it.

The invention comprises a centrally vertically bored housing or casting I5 in which the draft tube or conduit I2 is mounted. The container wall I I is provided with a flanged annular bushing I5 on which rests a gasket Il and the casting I 5 is supported on the gasket Il and held in position by a flanged collar I 8. The collar I8 is externally threaded on its upper portion to be engaged by a two-piece clamping member I9 which is internally grooved and threaded to t the ilange El] of the casting I5 and the threads of the collar I9. The collar I8 is provided with oppositely located lugs 2I which engage the lower surface of the lugs 22 of the bushing I5.

The conduit I2 extends through the central aperture of the bushing I6 into the container II?. The central bore of the casting I5 is enlarged between its upper and lower ends to provide an annular chamber 23 and a narrow annular space 24 surrounding the conduit I2.

The upper end of the casting I5 is screw threaded at 25. A collar 26 rests on a gasket 2l located on the upper end of the casting. The collar 26 and screw threaded portion of the casting are engaged by a screw threaded collar or nut 28 to hold the parts securely together.

At the left hand side of the tap the casing I5 is provided with a horizontally disposed port29 through which CO2 gas under pressure is supplied to the horizontally disposed cylindrical chamber til in which a spring 3l is located. The spring bears on a valve 32 which controls the ports 33. Said ports communicate with the chamber 35 and a chamber Sli at opposite sides of the valve seat 55. A diaphragm 55 contacts with the stem 3l of the valve 32 at one side and a coiled spring 36 bears on the opposite side oi the diaphragm. The spring is adjustable by a wing nut 3S on a cup-shaped retaining member 4I] which is screwed into the vend of the housing member III attached to the casting I5. The chamber Mi communicates with the annular chamber 23 through a valved passage 32, the valve being indicated at I3. A gauge ill indicates the pressure in the passage I2.

CO2 gas is supplied through the port 29 and allowed to pass into the chamber 35, around the valve 32 through the ports 33 of the valve seat 35 into the chamber SLI, then through the passage I2 into the annular chamber 23 and space 2li into the beer container IQ. The spring 38 is adjusted according to the CO2 gas pressure desired, usually about seven and one-half pounds. 'I'he spring controls the normal position of the diaphragm 36 and valve 32. If the CO2 gas pressure in the chamber 3D becomes excessive, the pressure on the Valve 32 will restrict the passage of gas through the ports 33. The valve I3 prevents back pressure of the gas in the spaces 23 and 2li.

At the right hand side the casting I5 is provided with a cylindrical passage I5 relatively large in diameter and slightly inclined downwardly toward the conduit I2 with which it communicates. At its other end the passage i5 terminates in a double screen iii of closely woven wire mesh. A small conduit 65, provided with a valve G8, communicates with the screened passage I5 at one end and with a chamber dil at its other end. Said chamber II@ is formed within a housing 55 secured to the casting I5. A diaphragm 5I, mounted in the housing 5u, is controlled by a spring 52. The diaphragm carries a cup-shaped valve member 53 provided with ports 53 and a gasket 5l! whichY normally ts on the valve seat 55. The part 55 and housing wall are provided with a passage 56. A cap or nut 5l is screwed into the housing 58 which is attached to the housing 55 for enclosing and adjusting the spring 52.

Frequently beer is delivered to the dispenser under excess CO2 gas pressure, or excess gas may form in the beer. In order to relieve the beer of such excess gas, without wasting the product, I have provided the construction herein described.

The excess gas, with beer and foam, rises from the container Ill, passing into the space 24 and annular chamber 23 to the passageway 45 where the foam is blocked by the double screen 46, while the excess CO2 gas passes through the passage 47 to the chamber 49. There it presses on the diaphragm 5| causing the diaphragm to draw the valve member 53-54 away from the seat 55, thus permitting the gas to escape through the ports 53 and passageway 56 to the atmosphere.

Changes may be made in details of construction Without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A beer tap and control mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be connected with a beer container, a draft tube extending through the housing and adapted to enter the beer container, the tube and housing being spaced apart to form an annular chamber closed at one end and adapted to communicate at its other end with the beer container, a chamber in the housing communicating with the beer container externally of the draft tube, a gas intake for said chamber, valve mechanism in the chamber controlling the supply of gas to the beer container, a second chamber in the housing having a valved eXit to the atmosphere, a relatively large screened passageway and a relatively small, valve-controlled passageway communicating with each other and located between said second chamber and the annular chamber.

2. A beer tap and control mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be connected with a beer container, a draft tube extending through the housing and adapted to enter the beer container, the tube and housing being spaced apart to form an annular chamber closed at one end and adapted to communicate at its other end with the beer container, a chamber in the housing, a valved passage connecting the chamber with the beer container externally of the draft tube, a gas intake for said chamber, valve mechanism controlling the supply of gas to the chamber, a second chamber in the housing having a valved exit to the atmosphere, a relatively large screened passageway and a relatively small, valve-controlled passageway communicating with each other and located between said second chamber and the annular chamber.

3. A beer tap and control mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be connected with a beer container, a draft tube extending vertically through the housing and adapted to enter the beer container, the tube and housing being spaced apart to form an annular chamber closed at its top and adapted to communicate at its bottom with the beer container, a chamber in the housing communicating with the beer container externally of the draft tube, a gas intake for said chamber, valve mechanism in the chamber controlling the supply of gas to the beer container, a second chamber in the housing having a valved exit to the atmosphere, a relatively large screened passageway and a smaller valvecontrolled passageway communicating with the upper portion of said screened passageway and located between said second chamber and the annular chamber.

4. A beer tap and control mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be connected with a beer container, a draft tube extending through the housing and adapted to enter the beer container, the tube and housing being spaced apart to form an annular chamber closed at one end and adapted to communicate at its other end with the beer container, a chamber in the housing communicating with the beer container externally of the draft tube, a gas intake for said chamber, a valve seat located in said chamber, a valve having a stem extending through said seat, a diaphragm mounted in the chamber and engaging said stem, a spring bearing on the valve, a second chamber in the housing having a valved exit to the atmosphere, a, relatively large screened passageway and a relatively small, valve-controlled passageway communicating with each other and located between said second chamber and the annular chamber.

5, A beer tap and control mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be connected with a beer container, a draft tube extending through the housing and adapted to enter the beer container, the tube and housing being spaced apart to form an annular chamber closed at one end and adapted to communicate at its other end with the beer container, a chamber in the housing communicating with the beer container externally of the draft tube, a gas intakeior said chamber, valve mechanism in the chamber controlling the supply of gas to the beer container, a second chamber in the housing, a diaphragm in the second housing, a valve carried by the diaphragm, a valve seat provided with a passageway communicating with the atmosphere, a relatively large screened passageway and a relatively small, valve-controlled passageway communicating with each other and located between said second chamber and the annular chamber.

HENRY C. WILLIAMSON. 

